Chapter 267 - 227: Each Displays Their Divine Techniques

Zhao Xuanqi’s voice resounded through the courtyard, but he had long since vanished like a wisp of smoke.

Only Yue Shu remained in the courtyard, his expression dazed as he watched the cloud of blood that had erupted slowly settle, leaving a patch of stains on the ground.

At this moment, Yue Shu felt as if he were in a dream; everything he had witnessed tonight seemed utterly unreal.

Zhao Xuanqi had brazenly infiltrated the residence alone, right through the front, and displayed the power of Harmony. Then, in less than three minutes, he had defeated and captured one of the Sixteen Generals. To Yue Shu, it was all too fantastical.

"Quick! Quick! Quick!"

"Surround the residence! Don’t let anyone leave!"

"All units on high alert! Weapons loaded!"

"..."

Just then, a clamor arose from outside the residence, accompanied by the thud of many footsteps. The commotion had clearly alerted the surrounding garrison, who were now rushing to provide reinforcements.

WHOOSH!!

A ghostly figure vaulted over the wall and landed inside the courtyard. At the same time, dozens of men clad in special gear made from Rare Beast Materials and wielding modified firearms swarmed in, firmly securing the scene.

The man in the lead was tall, with eyes as sharp as a falcon’s. His face was angular and somewhat gaunt, with long, narrow eyebrows and a hooked nose. He had a ruthless air that sent a chill down one’s spine, as if being stared down by a hawk from the heavens.

His gaze swept across the courtyard, and he too was shocked by the scene.

Most importantly, there was no sign of Meng Dongtai.

His gaze locked onto Yue Shu. He took a single step, crossing the space like a hawk spreading its wings, and appeared at Yue Shu’s side. He grabbed Yue Shu, who was collapsed on the ground, and hauled him to his feet, demanding in a deep voice, "What in the hell happened? Where’s Meng Dongtai?!"

Only then did Yue Shu seem to snap out of his daze. He struggled to speak. "Ying, just now... the Hundred Beasts Fist Qilin infiltrated with a group of visitors and attacked Senior Brother Meng. They clashed for fewer than twenty exchanges before Zhao Xuanqi defeated Senior Brother Meng with a single strike and kidnapped him. He left a warning: if we of the Beidou Army don’t withdraw from Jinmen by tomorrow morning, he’ll hang Senior Brother Meng’s head in Longwu Square."

"What did you say?!"

Hearing Yue Shu’s words, the hawk-like man’s face filled with shock.

This man was Cao Ying, a Harmony expert sent by the Beidou Army to assist Meng Dongtai. Although his strength was not on par with the Sixteen Generals, he was an incredibly experienced veteran. He had not been staying in the same residence as Meng Dongtai, but had secretly set up at the Beidou Army’s Military Department in Jinmen to command their forces and prepare for the next phase of their plan.

Even so, his residence wasn’t far from Meng Dongtai’s. The moment he sensed the disturbance, he knew something was wrong and immediately mustered his forces to come over.

His total reaction time was definitely under three minutes.

’Meng Dongtai, one of the Sixteen Generals... I know his reputation is well-earned, and he’s even stronger than me. But an expert of his caliber couldn’t even last three minutes before being defeated and captured alive?!’

’And the name Yue Shu mentioned... the Hundred Beasts Fist Qilin, Zhao Xuanqi?!’

’Isn’t he only at the Half-Step Harmony realm? According to his file, he’s not even twenty. How can someone so young defeat an expert like Meng Dongtai in such a short amount of time?!’

For a moment, Cao Ying almost suspected that Yue Shu had been subjected to some kind of spiritual attack, causing him to hallucinate and misidentify the assailant.

But none of that was important right now. Regardless of who the attacker was, judging by the scene, the fact remained that Meng Dongtai was missing.

"Send an urgent wire to Shangjing immediately and report this to the Military Commander! Also, mobilize all our assets! Gather intelligence, find out where Meng Dongtai is, and identify his attacker!"

"Oh, and contact the other military forces immediately! Tell them to lend a hand!"

Cao Ying commanded in a low voice.

This incident was already beyond his ability to handle. The situation in Jinmen seemed to be spiraling out of control.

...

...

「Meanwhile.」

In a luxurious mansion somewhere in Jinmen.

This was the residence of Qi Hongxuan, the expert from the Vermilion Bird Sect known as the Feathered Spirit.

On the surface, everything in the mansion appeared ordinary, but it was actually heavily guarded, with sentries posted in plain sight and in the shadows, as well as Phoenix Army soldiers disguised as common guards.

Jinmen was nominally under the Beidou Army’s jurisdiction, so the Phoenix Army couldn’t mobilize large garrisons like their rivals could. However, this didn’t mean the Phoenix Army was weak. This very residence was filled with elite experts, dozens of whom had reached a Martial Dao realm at or above Inner Cultivation.

At this moment, Qi Hongxuan was in the study in the mansion’s rear courtyard. He was a middle-aged man of about forty. Though not particularly tall, he was handsome, with a high-bridged nose and a pair of bright, piercing eyes. A warm, gentle smile was ever-present on his face.

Dressed in a dark blue robe, he was currently seated in his study, reviewing intelligence reports on Jinmen.

Several Phoenix Army experts stationed in Jinmen stood respectfully in the study, awaiting Qi Hongxuan’s orders.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Just then, a knock came at the study door. A tall man carrying a file folder walked in, came to a stop before the desk, and bowed slightly before addressing Qi Hongxuan. "Director Qi, we’ve just received intelligence. The Beidou Army has secretly convened a meeting with key Jinmen officials. I fear they have other plans for the city’s situation."

"Just as I predicted. It’s of no concern. The situation in Jinmen is complex. If Yuan Tianhao wants to succeed, he’ll have to negotiate with us eventually. Instruct our assets and various enterprises within Jinmen to remain vigilant and be prepared to respond to any changes."